“It’s hard to throw away history. It was like you were throwing away a part of yourself.”
Jenny Han's quote delves into the profound connection individuals have with their past and the emotional weight that history carries. The idea of throwing away history is framed not just as a physical act, but as a symbolic dismissal of one's identity and experiences.
The phrase "hard to throw away history" suggests that the past is not easily forgotten or discarded. It implies that our memories, experiences, and the places we’ve been significantly shape who we are. This resonates with the broader theme of nostalgia; we often hold onto memories, both good and bad, because they contribute to our sense of self.
The second part of the quote, "a part of yourself," reinforces the personal nature of this connection. It indicates that history is intertwined with our identity—it's not merely an external collection of events but an intrinsic part of our being. To throw it away would mean losing a fragment of ourselves, which can provoke feelings of grief and loss.
Overall, Jenny Han's insight underlines the importance of understanding and preserving our histories, as they form a crucial foundation for our identities, shaping our present decisions and future paths.
“She and I were still friends, but not best friends, not like we used to be. But we were still friends. She'd known me my whole life. It's hard to throw away history. It was like you were throwing away a part of yourself.”
“Conrad and I were linked, we would always be linked. That wasn't something I could do away with. I knew that now- that love wasn't something you could erase, no matter how hard you tired.”
“I knew that now—that love wasn’t something you could do away with, no matter how hard you tried.”
“It’s a known fact that in life, you can’t have everything. In my heart I knew I loved them both, as much as possible to love two people at the same time. Conrad and I were linked, we would always be linked. That wasn’t something I could do away with. I knew that now—that love wasn’t something you could erase, no matter how hard you tried.”
“Suddenly I had this feeling, this absolute certainty, that I was never going to be able to let him go. It was as simple and as hard as that. I had clung to him like a barnacle all these years, and now I couldn’t cut away. It was my own fault, really. I couldn’t let go of Conrad.”
“Sometimes it’s like people are a million times more beautiful to you in your mind. It’s like you see them through a special lens — but maybe if it’s how you see them,that’s how they really are. It’s like the whole tree falling in the forest thing.”